My name is Carter LaCorte and I am a 5th grader from Long Island, NY. I started this blog so I could write articles about the NHL and MLB. My favorite teams are the New York Yankees and the New York Islanders.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

The Washington Capitals have acquired defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and goalie Pheonix Copley from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forwards Brad Malone, Zach Sanford, a conditional 2019 second round pick and a first round draft pick in the 2017 NHL draft. Let's get into details.
Ever since the Capitals drafted left winger Alex Ovechkin with the first overall pick in the 2004 draft, their team has been great. He's scored 50 or more goals in a season 7 times. He has won 4 consecutive Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophies (most goals in a season). The only thing that Ovechkin can't do is make it to the Eastern conference finals in the playoffs. It seems like every year they're out in the second round.
Getting an amazing defenseman in Shattenkirk can really help their defensive core. The Caps don't even need Shattenkirk. They have last year's Vezina trophy winner (best goalie) in Braden Holtby. They also have all-star defenseman John Carlson. But getting Shattenkirk can still make them a way better team. "We felt it was important to acquire another defenseman to strengthen and add depth to our blue line," Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said. "Kevin is a skilled, puck moving defenseman who we think will help our team at even strength and on the power play."
They gave up a first round pick that will probably be a late pick, because the Caps currently are the best team in the NHL with 89 points (a record of 41-13-7). Sanford is a solid prospect but nothing major. Malone is also a depth player.
The other guy the Caps got, Copley, was in their organization until a trade with the Blues struck, sending winger T.J. Oshie to the Caps. "We are also pleased to welcome Pheonix back to the organization. We feel his addition solidifies our goaltending tandem in [AHL] Hershey," MacLellan also said.
Shattenkirk, 28, has 42 points (11 goals and 31 assists) in 61 games for the Blues this season.
Copley, 25, has 1 start for the Blues this season, with a 5.09 GAA and a SV% of 0.828. In 25 games for Chicago (AHL), Copley has a GAA of 2.31 and a SV% of 0.920.
I personally don't like this trade for the Blues. Even though he could be a UFA on July 1, Shattenkirk was a big part for the Blues, who currently sit in the second wild card spot in Western conference with 67 points (a record of 31-25-5). They are in the playoff race, but the Los Angeles Kings trail just 2 points behind them with a great goalie tandem of Jonathan Quick and the newly acquired Ben Bishop. The Blues seem to want to tank now. They received a decent prospect in Sanford, a first round pick which is always good and a depth player in Malone.
Sanford, 22, has 3 points (2 goals and 1 assist) in 26 games for the Caps this season. He has 16 points (11 goals and 5 assists) in 25 games for the Hershey Bears (AHL) this season.
Malone, 27, hasn't played in the NHL this season. He has 20 points (7 goals and 13 assists) in 52 games for Hershey this season. He has 30 points (13 goals and 17 assists) in 176 career NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche.